A Kansas resident fills out his ballot for the midterms on the first day of in-person voting in Lawrence, Kan., on Oct. 14. Around a dozen former federal employees are candidates in upcoming general congressional elections.

These former feds could be members of Congress next year

Sponsor Content

Atlassian and AWS help federal agencies leave legacy systems behind

Discover how Atlassian and AWS help government agencies modernize legacy systems, strengthen security, break down data silos, and accelerate mission-critical work.

Management

HHS telework rollback challenge upheld by FLRA

Federal Labor Relations Authority members wrote that HHS seemingly used generative AI tools to draft its legal brief, since many of its citations were “fictitious, erroneous, or irrelevant.” 

Management

‘Last chance to stay where you are.’ USDA gives some employees facing relocation a shot at unfilled local jobs 

A Natural Resources Conservation Service employee said most critical vacancies available at his grade level would amount to a "voluntary downgrade," but would spare him from relocating across the country.

Exclusive Management

‘It’s The Price is Right’: How USCIS artificially deflated employee ratings under forced distribution mandate

A federal whistleblower says the agency instituted a forced distribution of employee performance ratings last year, months before the Trump administration lifted a ban on the practice.

Sponsor Content

What Comes After Certification? The Shift to Compliant Security Operations.

Federal compliance doesn’t end with certification. Discover how continuous security operations, automation, and real-time monitoring are reshaping government cybersecurity.

Tech

USPTO looks to AI agents to ease examiner workloads

The office’s Acting Commissioner for Patents Barry Schindler said putting agents in the hands of its examiners “can shorten that [review process] to one year, because you can pick up the phone and have conversations.”

Tech

ICE wants AI to take on more of its legal workload

The agency is looking for software that can help its attorneys manage the growing demands of litigation, investigations and other legal matters.

Management

‘A rushed and complicated system.’ Federal employees say they’re in the dark over limited top ratings 

A mandate to limit outstanding performance scores has managers playing a numbers game and risks pitting teammates against each other.

VOICES
Oversight

Oversight of nuclear material security cut back due to civil service reductions, GAO finds

The Government Accountability Office also reported that the National Nuclear Security Administration has more than lost its recent hiring gains.

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Tech

State Department orders ‘super intelligence’ wording across all official communications

An internal cable from the agency extends Trump’s terminology change to emails, speeches, websites and official titles, while preserving legal language and historical records.

Oversight

Trump’s IG pick at the VA is ‘watering down’ oversight, some employees allege

As the Veterans Affairs inspector general faces mounting workforce challenges, some employees and former watchdogs raise questions about the office's trajectory.

Workforce

Union seeks new avenue to restore VA contract

The American Federation of Government Employees asked a federal judge to issue an “indicative” ruling that would only take effect if OKed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Tech

This cybersecurity agency is supposed to protect U.S. elections. Officials fear it’s been compromised by Trump

President Donald Trump’s 2027 budget proposal would reduce funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency by another $700 million, which could necessitate 900 additional layoffs.

Exclusive Tech

Senator warns hundreds of federal web addresses may lack key spying protection

The list includes websites for FBI tips, intelligence job applications and the Veterans Crisis Line.

Management

Enforcement ‘surge’ from DOJ, IRS uncovers $490M in suspected tax fraud   

Justice and IRS officials said this won’t be the last tax fraud enforcement surge of its kind. But it's not yet clear how much money they'll claw back from suspected fraudsters.

Workforce

Judge again orders reinstatement of Bureau of Prisons union contracts, but stops short of contempt

U.S. District Judge Jordan Oliver found that the agency’s re-termination of its collective bargaining agreements last week violated last month’s preliminary injunction but said he would not police individual contract infractions.

Workforce

VA allows union contract to expire for most employees

Individuals hired as departmental police officers, firefighters and security guards, exempted from Trump’s anti-union orders, remain covered under the expired collective bargaining agreement, albeit only for “mandatory” conditions of employment.

Management

USPS ‘ready to deliver’ ballots in midterms without mail-in voting EO restrictions 

The Postal Service's law enforcement agency is investigating suspicious letters sent to several state officials who oversee election operations. 

Tech

CMS hopes to quadruple provider suspensions over next 6 months, official says

A new exclusion authority is the Trump administration’s latest step in a technology-enabled drive to restrict fraud, waste and abuse.

Updated Oversight

HUD’s staffing cuts hurt certain housing services, watchdog finds

Housing organizations told the Government Accountability Office that they now face more obstacles getting in touch with department employees in a timely manner.

Tech

AI offers Secret Service unique mission enhancements, official says

Threats against the Secret Service’s full-time protectees are up over 40% since last year. The service’s CIO and CAIO Chris Kraft said AI “can help us as we investigate those threats, monitor those threats [and] bring together correlations between seemingly disparate information.”